Okay, are you done laughing? Because you better be done laughing, since BSG isn't funny. Ever.

It was really, really lovely to hear my beloved prologue music again. They changed the visuals, but they were appropriate changes. But, God, I love that music.

The first act started out pretty strong. I think Starbuck killing Leoben and then quietly sitting down to eat dinner with one blood-stained hand was the best part of the episode. And...I mean both episodes. Because that scene wowed me and made me think, "Okay, maybe this show can woo me back." It helped, of course, that they used "Passacaglia."

For the larger part of the remaining hours, though, I was both annoyed and uncomfortable with the RIDICULOUSLY BLATANT parallels with the Bush administration and the current political environment. Yes, I know the show has been doing this for two years, making commentary on the world we live in, the dark side of the world we live in. But at this point, it's become a really depressing Daily Show. If I wanted to watch the news, I'd watch the news. Suicide bombings? Check. People being led into detention camps with bags over their heads? Check. President denying any reports of torture? Check. Everything being done in the name of God? Check. I'm fairly stupid and apolitical and don't pay attention to current events and even I could see it.

And speaking of seeing, file this under Things I Don't Need to See: Ellen Tigh having sex with Dean Stockwell. Although Ellen got some extra layers to her character in these episodes, so that was nice. She's now a Cylon-frakker.

I love Cavill, though. I really, really like that all the Cylons have very distinct, different personalities, and the clashes among them were highlights, especially because you get cute shots of the multiple clones. But they also highlighted a basic problem I had with the finale. What the frak are they frakking doing? They decided to subjugate the human race...in the name of God? If, as Cavill says, they're here to bring the Word of God, why aren't we seeing any preachers or churches or proselytizing? What does God want for the heathen human race and their Lords of Kobol? I don't understand! I also liked that Six and Eight have retained their "Downloaded" experience and are trying to bring a more enlightened "Um, maybe God doesn't want us to KILL EVERYONE SO MUCH" point of view to the table.

I do wonder about Caprica Six, though, who proclaimed her love for Baltar and then got SHOT IN THE FUCKING HEAD. Was she an anomaly? Will she be reborn just as she was? Do the other Sixes love Baltar? Someone needs to punch Doral in the face for killing Six like that, because you DON'T DO THAT.

Speaking of things you don't do: IS EVERYONE FRAKKING MARRIED NOW? Lee and Dualla got married? Sharon and Helo got married? Okay, that one I buy, but I'll miss hearing them say "Sharon Valerii," because that was a cool name.

Then there's Starbuck's baby, or whatever that is. Because the Cylon-human hybrids are the shit. This creepy arrangement with Leoben is...creepy. He's very patient, too, after getting killed five times. You'd think he'd take the hint. Starbuck's not going to love you, dude. Except when the kid trips and falls or something, and she squeezes your hand because children make the ovaries pulsate.

Gaeta got pretty cool, too, being the Mysterious Informant That Couldn't Possibly Be the Human Closest to the President. Okay, I didn't guess it was him until he started running like hell through the streets of New Caprica, which was a cool scene.

You know, a lot of shit happened in these two episodes. They packed them full of lots of intertwining, complicated subplots.

Also: Lee got FAT, yo. I was not even prepared. Poor Jamie Bamber. Look at that gut!

So. I appreciate what they're doing here. But I don't love it. This isn't the show I signed up for, you know? I liked it more when they were on the run from the Cylons. And I understand that they tried to shake things up, and I will admit this is the ballsiest show on television. And this whole resistance thing and human revolution thing could be very, very cool. But this show hasn't wooed me back just yet. I still like it. I think. I know I'm supposed to, after all. The show is still a phenomenal technical achievement; I love the production value, the look and sound of the show. And I want to see what's going to happen and where this story is going. I don't know. I don't deal well with change, and this is a big change.

Oh, Battlestar Galactica. I love the slanted walls in your A-shaped halls. I...wish we could see them again.Current Mood:uncomfortableCurrent Music: Peaches - Fuck the Pain Away

Comments:

Gaeta got pretty cool, too, being the Mysterious Informant That Couldn't Possibly Be the Human Closest to the President. Okay, I didn't guess it was him until he started running like hell through the streets of New Caprica, which was a cool scene.

Really? Hmmm, I figured it out at the same time they revealed that there was an informant. Poor Gaeta.

I do think it's kind of funny that everyone seems to have gotten married but I just sort of shrug. And "The New Crew In Town" is great. Anything that has the lines "Apollo's hair looked like a shampoo commercial" and "So much better than the one with Lorne Greene" wins in my book.

I'm kinda shocked that you didn't mention one of the big standout changes - Osama bin Tigh. His "Angel of Death" speech and all that jazz was just scary and awesome in his extremism. Plus he has such a cool relationship with Ellen.

It isn't the BSG that I knew last season, that's very true, though I do think that it is the same show with the same people at its core. There is change, and difference, but the same questions are being asked, the same fight is being fought, the same conflicts are surfacing, and the fundamental question - does humanity deserve salvation? - is still there. I'm sorry you're not digging it as much.

I thought Starbuck's squeezing Leoben's hand was really abrupt and I can't help but think she's up to something (again). There's no way she's going to start having feelings for him just because "that thing" fell down the stairs. I just don't buy it.

I'm with you, I didn't figure out Gaeta was the informer until.. well, maybe a little before he was running through the streets. When he was talking with Gaius, I thought, "I bet he's the informant." And I was right! Which pleased me greatly.

Everyone being married was somewhat Harlequin Romance, but at the same time, the human race is possibly coming to an end so that could seem more important in those circumstances.

He was fat at the end of last season so why wouldn't he be fat here?He was fat then. He's FAT now. Complete with realistic-looking prosthetic and various characters making jokes about how fat he's become.

Are you going to consider recapping Caprica now?Because it will have slanted walls and A-shaped halls? Non sequitur.

It made perfect sense to me that everyone'd get married - they think they're safe, right? What's the first thing you do when your species has narrowly escaped annihilation? Get married and start having babies!

I liked it a lot, but now I'm scared for like, everyone. *clings to Gaeta, Roslin, Sharon, and even Tom Zarek*

Agree with you on Cavill, he is quite an awesome character. Genuinely creepy, but somehow, all the male cylons seem to have serious social relatability problems (except maybe for Doctor Cylon, he probably has good bedside manners programmed).

I am surprised that everyone is getting married, as well, but I think that's more of a cultural difference - I really don't see why you would need to get married in order to advance your species. And seriously, Anastasia Adama? Yikes. (I hope she survives, really. She and Gaeta are so awesome. Sigh.)

But at this point, it's become a really depressing Daily Show. If I wanted to watch the news, I'd watch the news.

Yeah, it was a little heavy-handed in places, but look on the bright side: how many other shows on television would have the absolute balls to have their main characters on the side of the suicide bombers. I really, really didn't think they'd have Duck go through with it and then...DAMN.

I was actually more struck in places by, obviously, parallels to occupied Europe in WWII, with all the talk of collaborators and the policing.

I do wonder about Caprica Six, though, who proclaimed her love for Baltar and then got SHOT IN THE FUCKING HEAD. Was she an anomaly? Will she be reborn just as she was?

I assume and hope so -- I mean, they talked of boxing her back in "Downloaded" but I'm not sure if they're still thinking about it after she supposedly spearheaded a revolution in their thinking. It didn't take, obviously, but still. "Hold still and die, dammit! WHY WON'T YOU LET US LOVE YOU?"

Speaking of things you don't do: IS EVERYONE FRAKKING MARRIED NOW?

It is apparently contageous. I wonder if Sharon was allowed out of her cell for the ceremony, reception, and/or honeymoon. NO TOUCHING!

Then there's Starbuck's baby, or whatever that is.

They put that line about "This is Kara. She's your mother." in one of the S3 promos! WTF? That should have been a major shock, but instead I was like, "Oh, there that is." Leoben gives me the willies.

Okay, I didn't guess it was him until he started running like hell through the streets of New Caprica, which was a cool scene.

Hee -- I knew it was Gaeta the second they said there was an informant. Foolish Cow.

Also: Lee got FAT, yo. I was not even prepared. Poor Jamie Bamber. Look at that gut!

David Eick did a video blog about Jamie and the fat suit -- he's wearing the prosthetic bellies from when they had to make Boomer look pregnant, hee! Also, apparently the writers forgot they had made Apollo fat so Jamie had to call David and Ron and be like "Um, guys?" And then they were all, "Oh yeah, you're fat! We should do something about that..."

And I want to see what's going to happen and where this story is going. I don't know. I don't deal well with change, and this is a big change.

I give them...five episodes, before they're all back in space again. This is kind of like the arc from "Shattered" to "Home, Part II" last season -- they've got to get everybody rounded up again and on their way.

I'm fairly stupid and apolitical and don't pay attention to current events and even I could see it.

I kind of think that's a good thing. Plus, just the fact they were willing to take this on so fucking blatently is a huge plus in my eyes. In this environment, it takes balls.

Except when the kid trips and falls or something, and she squeezes your hand because children make the ovaries pulsate.

Part of me thinks Starbuck is faking, but even if she's not, I do think it's about a lot more than just kiddies making our lady parts pulsate (and, believe me, I'd be all too ready to jump all over that) I think it has more to do with that crazy fucker Leoben getting Kara where it hurts by bringing in the very thought of a little girl being hurt not only on her watch, but really kind of because of her actions. I mean, considering Kara's own experiences with abuse and her childhood, this was a really smart tactic. And totally fucked up.

I love "A New Crew in Town". I don't think it beats your "Lazy Friday", although I admit it has an advantage in that there's a video and actual music. Now, if you recorded yourself singing "Lazy Friday", you'd be the clear winner there. And I recommend that you do that. :)

I loved loved LOVED these two episodes, which I thought were crazy intense in an entirely good way. I can see your complaint about heavy-handedness with the Iraq parallel. I guess I don't have a problem with it because I think the situation mirrors basically any occupation scenario, so isn't entirely specific to Iraq. Plus, I just find it fascinating.

The bloody-handed Starbuck eating dinner was indeed an incredibly awesome scene. Loved it. And I think you might know that I'm not the hugest Starbuck or Katee Sackhoff fan out there, but she was great right there. And the use of "Passacaglia" made me very happy.

Speaking of "Passacaglia", do you happen to have that song, and if so, would you be willing to send it to me (either through e-mail or sendspace or any other way)? I have the season two soundtrack but not season one, and I plan to buy it, but I'd very much like to have at least that one track sooner than amazon can get it to me.

Anyway, for me the best thing about these two episodes is that they've got me really excited about the paths of so many characters, even ones that I wasn't particularly interested in before. I'm incredibly intrigued by Starbuck's situation and basically have no idea how it's going to go down but can't wait to see it. And I'm loving badass, basically amoral Tigh. Tyrol I've always loved and continue to love; it will be interesting to see if Jammer can redeem himself; I'm excited by the prospect of a Roslin/Zarek friendship (assuming they both live--I think we all know Roslin will); Gaeta has finally made himself interesting to me, and I'm so scared for him; the Adama/Sharon A. relationship is puzzling and interesting, and I certainly hope we learn how exactly it developed into its current state and I'm very curious to see how the rest of the fleet (and Roslin in particular) will react to their chumminess; the differences in personality and intent between the cylon models is amusing and so clearly ready to explode. I could go on and on, but these episodes got me so excited for this season.

I really can't wait until we get past the occupation and back in the air on the run from cylons and searching for earth because...well, I guess because at that point I'll feel like we're back to the good old show that I know and love and feel comfortable with, but I expect the resolution of the New Caprica situation to be exciting as hell, and to teach us a lot about a number of characters. I already feel like I've learned so much about so many characters just in the first two hours.

Oh, and Adama kicks ass. I love him so much. I even love his moustache. I swear every line he spoke in the first two episodes gave me chills.

I watched it! And really liked it. Course, I'm a casual viewer so I had no expectations at all, but I'd seen the finale so I thought I'd watch this, (mostly because I had nothing better to do, to be honest), but...

I think Starbuck killing Leoben and then quietly sitting down to eat dinner with one blood-stained hand was the best part of the episode. And...I mean both episodes.

I agree. I was feeling sort of wishy washy about watching the whole thing, but then that scene happened and I had to watch the rest! If only to find out where in the hell she was and why she was playing house with a cylon. It was such a kickass scene! Her rage toward him was palpable.

Overall, I liked the episode.

You know who I don't like though? That guy who's one of the lead resistance fellas, with the wife and baby. Chief? He's really annoying. I found him annoying last season too, in the few episodes I'd seen, this episode confirmed that opinion. It could be because I guessed right away that it was Gaeta who was the secret contact inside, and I know nothing, so why couldn't that dude figure it out? I was suprised you said you didn't guess it was Gaeta either, maybe I'm smarter than I thought! Heh.

But I figured, Gaeta's really the only human close enough to the Pres. to be the inside person. Then, I figured when we next saw Gaeta and Chief talking, Chief must know Gaeta was the insider since Gaeta was there telling him about something er other, but then the Chief started whining and got all pissy - accusing Geata of being a traitor or whatever. Uh, duh, why do you think he's there talking to you dude? Then when he started blathering on to that Secret Police guy, I was worried he was going to get Gaeta in trouble for talking shit when he should keep his mouth shut! That Chief guy has terrible instincts. Be a dick to the guy who's helping him, then act buddy, buddy with the secret police dude. Feh.

One thing that really bothered me about the resistance: Why do they stay in that camp? Why not run off and hide in the woods, set up a base out there? Aren't they asking for trouble staying in the camp where the robots/SS can spy on them/snatch their loved ones? I don't really get it.

I'm not sure if I'll really stick with the show or not. I have a feeling I'll be frustrated by certain stories. For instance, I like the Sharon that's married to Helo - but I'm sure there's going to be some misunderstanding and they'll all think she betrayed them but it's really Ellen's fault their secret meeting was foiled. And Sharon's baby getting stolen from her I'm sure is going to piss her off - so I could see her being faithful, faithful, faithful to the humans - until finally she's had it and she DOES turn against them all and it'll be like, "SEE, we should never have trusted her!" but it'll really be all their own fault. Hrmph.

I didn't find the Bush parallels to be overkill though. This administration IS depressing and horrific. That's the point.

Okay, I've watched 3.01 and 3.02 and I agree my favorite scene was when Starbuck stabbed that Cylon and then sat down to eat her dinner...I was hoping she'd take the time to eat before she ran but apparently she can't run and she knows it...what I don't get is when the frak we met this Leoben guy? Did I miss an episode somewhere that I need to go back and check? I get that he thinks Kara's his one true love and he stole her ovary and created a child with her...creepy bastard but I don't remember her meeting him when she was down on Caprica so was it before she was there??

We met Leoben way back in S1. Actually, the miniseries is the first time we saw him; he's in that little factory with Adama, I think it was, and he greets the Cylons at the very end. But his Big Episode is "Flesh and Bone," and that's where he makes his connection with Kara. We never saw him on Caprica, I don't think.

Lee was already chubby in the finale. You were surprised to see him still heavy? I didn't think he was all that chubby in the finale. But now, they gave him that prosthetic, and DAMN.

That right there is ballsy for the show to make the hunk very unhunky. Yeah.

This story point fascinated me the most because it made me think of the lengths I would be willing to go to for my husband. That was pretty extreme on her part. You think so? Hasn't she been painted as sort of a floozy?